Fort Towson

The governor of Wyoming is the head of government of Wyoming, and the commander-in-chief of the U.S. state's military department.

The gubernatorial term has been set at four years since statehood. Originally, a governor could be elected any number of times. Since a 1992 referendum, governors have been limited to eight years in office during any 16-year period—effectively limiting them to two consecutive terms.

List of governors

Territory of Wyoming

Governors of the Territory of Wyoming
No. Governor Term in office[a] Appointing President
1 John Allen Campbell
(1835–1880)
[2]
April 7, 1869[b]

February 10, 1875
(successor appointed)
Ulysses S. Grant
2 John Milton Thayer
(1820–1906)
[6]
February 10, 1875[c]

April 10, 1878
(successor appointed)
Ulysses S. Grant
3 John Wesley Hoyt
(1831–1912)
[9]
April 10, 1878[d]

August 3, 1882
(successor appointed)
Rutherford B. Hayes
4 William Hale
(1837–1885)
[12]
August 3, 1882[e]

January 13, 1885
(died in office)[f]
Chester A. Arthur
5 Francis E. Warren
(1844–1929)
[15][16]
February 27, 1885[g]

November 11, 1886
(successor appointed)
Chester A. Arthur
6 George W. Baxter
(1855–1929)
[19]
November 11, 1886[h]

December 20, 1886
(resigned)[i]
Grover Cleveland
7 Thomas Moonlight
(1833–1899)
[20]
December 20, 1886[j]

April 9, 1889
(successor appointed)
Grover Cleveland
8 Francis E. Warren
(1844–1929)
[15][16]
April 9, 1889[k]

October 11, 1890
(elected state governor)
Benjamin Harrison

State of Wyoming

Governors of the State of Wyoming
No. Governor Term in office Party Election Secretary of State[l]
1   Francis E. Warren
(1844–1929)
[15][16][25]
October 11, 1890[26]

November 24, 1890
(resigned)[m]
Republican[27] 1890   John W. Meldrum
Amos W. Barber
2 Amos W. Barber
(1860–1915)
[28][29]
November 24, 1890[30]

January 2, 1893
(successor took office)
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
3 John Eugene Osborne
(1858–1943)
[31][32]
January 2, 1893[33]

January 7, 1895
(did not run)[31]
Democratic[n] 1892§ Amos W. Barber[o]
4 William A. Richards
(1849–1912)
[35][36]
January 7, 1895[37]

January 2, 1899
(did not run)[35]
Republican[27] 1894 Charles W. Burdick
5 DeForest Richards
(1846–1903)
[38][39]
January 2, 1899[40]

April 28, 1903
(died in office)
Republican[27] 1898 Fenimore Chatterton
1902
6 Fenimore Chatterton
(1860–1958)
[41][42]
April 28, 1903[43]

January 2, 1905
(lost nomination)
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
7 Bryant Butler Brooks
(1861–1944)
[44]
January 2, 1905[45]

January 2, 1911
(did not run)
Republican[27] 1904
(special)
Fenimore Chatterton
1906 William Schnitger
8 Joseph M. Carey
(1845–1924)
[46][47]
January 2, 1911[48]

January 4, 1915
(did not run)
Democratic[p][46] 1910 Frank L. Houx
9 John B. Kendrick
(1857–1933)
[49][50]
January 4, 1915[51]

February 24, 1917
(resigned)[q]
Democratic[27] 1914
10 Frank L. Houx
(1854–1941)
[52][53]
February 24, 1917[54]

January 6, 1919
(lost election)
Democratic[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
11 Robert D. Carey
(1878–1937)
[55][56]
January 6, 1919[57]

January 1, 1923
(lost nomination)[r]
Republican[27] 1918 William E. Chaplin
12 William B. Ross
(1873–1924)
[58][59]
January 1, 1923[60]

October 2, 1924
(died in office)
Democratic[27] 1922 Frank Lucas[o]
13 Frank Lucas
(1876–1948)
[61][62]
October 2, 1924[63]

January 5, 1925
(successor took office)
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
14 Nellie Tayloe Ross
(1876–1977)
[64][65]
January 5, 1925[66]

January 3, 1927
(lost election)
Democratic[27] 1924
(special)
Frank Lucas[o]
15 Frank Emerson
(1882–1931)
[67][68]
January 3, 1927[69]

February 18, 1931
(died in office)
Republican[27] 1926 Alonzo M. Clark
1930
16 Alonzo M. Clark
(1868–1952)
[70][71]
February 18, 1931[72]

January 2, 1933
(lost nomination)[s]
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
17 Leslie A. Miller
(1886–1970)
[73][74]
January 2, 1933[75]

January 2, 1939
(lost election)
Democratic[27] 1932
(special)
Alonzo M. Clark[o]
1934 Lester C. Hunt[t]
18 Nels H. Smith
(1884–1976)
[76][77]
January 2, 1939[78]

January 4, 1943
(lost election)
Republican[27] 1938
19 Lester C. Hunt
(1892–1954)
[79][80]
January 4, 1943[81]

January 3, 1949
(resigned)[u]
Democratic[27] 1942 Mart T. Christensen[o]
William M. Jack
1946 Arthur G. Crane[o]
20 Arthur G. Crane
(1877–1955)
[82][83]
January 3, 1949[84]

January 1, 1951
(successor took office)
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
21 Frank A. Barrett
(1892–1962)
[85][86]
January 1, 1951[87]

January 3, 1953
(resigned)[v]
Republican[27] 1950 Clifford Joy Rogers
22 Clifford Joy Rogers
(1897–1962)
[88][89]
January 3, 1953[90]

January 3, 1955
(lost nomination)[88]
Republican[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
23 Milward Simpson
(1897–1993)
[91][92]
January 3, 1955[93]

January 5, 1959
(lost election)
Republican[27] 1954 Everett T. Copenhaver
24 Joe Hickey
(1911–1970)
[94][95]
January 5, 1959[96]

January 2, 1961
(resigned)[w]
Democratic[27] 1958 Jack R. Gage
25 Jack R. Gage
(1899–1970)
[97][98]
January 2, 1961[99]

January 7, 1963
(lost election)
Democratic[27] Secretary of
state
acting
Acting as governor
26 Clifford Hansen
(1912–2009)
[100][101]
January 7, 1963[102]

January 2, 1967
(did not run)[x]
Republican[27] 1962 Thyra Thomson[o]
27 Stanley K. Hathaway
(1924–2005)
[103][104]
January 2, 1967[105]

January 6, 1975
(did not run)[103]
Republican[27] 1966
1970
28 Edgar Herschler
(1918–1990)
[106][107]
January 6, 1975[108]

January 5, 1987
(did not run)
Democratic[27] 1974
1978
1982
29 Mike Sullivan
(b. 1939)
[109]
January 5, 1987[110]

January 2, 1995
(term-limited)[y]
Democratic[109] 1986 Kathy Karpan
1990
30 Jim Geringer
(b. 1944)
[112]
January 2, 1995[113]

January 6, 2003
(term-limited)[y]
Republican[112] 1994 Diana J. Ohman
1998 Joseph Meyer[o]
31 Dave Freudenthal
(b. 1950)
[114]
January 6, 2003[115]

January 3, 2011
(term-limited)[y]
Democratic[114] 2002
2006 Max Maxfield[o]
32 Matt Mead
(b. 1962)
[116]
January 3, 2011[117]

January 7, 2019
(term-limited)[y]
Republican[116] 2010
2014 Ed Murray
Edward Buchanan
33 Mark Gordon
(b. 1957)
[118]
January 7, 2019[119]

Incumbent[z]
Republican[118] 2018
Karl Allred
2022 Chuck Gray

See also

Notes

  1. ^ The range given is from the date the governor was confirmed by the Senate, or appointed by the President during a Senate recess, to the date the governor's successor was confirmed, unless noted.
  2. ^ Campbell was nominated on April 3, 1869;[3] confirmed by the Senate on April 7;[4] took the oath of office on April 15;[2] and arrived in the territory on May 7.[2] He was reconfirmed by the Senate on March 26, 1873.[5]
  3. ^ Thayer was nominated[7] and confirmed by the Senate[8] on February 10, 1875, and took the oath of office on March 1.[6]
  4. ^ Hoyt was nominated on March 12, 1878;[10] confirmed by the Senate on April 10;[11] and arrived in the territory on May 29.[9]
  5. ^ Hale was nominated on July 26, 1882;[13] confirmed by the Senate on August 3;[14] and took the oath of office on August 22.[12]
  6. ^ Territorial Secretary Elliot S. N. Morgan acted as governor until Hale's successor arrived.[12]
  7. ^ Warren was nominated on February 26, 1885;[17] confirmed by the Senate on February 27;[18] and took the oath of office on February 28.[15]
  8. ^ Baxter was appointed on November 11, 1886, during a Senate recess.[19] He was not confirmed by the Senate before he resigned.
  9. ^ Baxter resigned due to charges of grazing cattle on government land; Territorial Secretary Elliot S. N. Morgan acted as governor until his successor arrived.[19]
  10. ^ Moonlight was nominated on December 8, 1886;[21] confirmed by the Senate on December 20;[22] and took the oath of office on January 24, 1887.[20]
  11. ^ Warren was nominated on March 26, 1889;[23] confirmed by the Senate on March 27;[24] and took the oath of office on April 9.[15]
  12. ^ Secretaries of state represented the same party as their governor unless noted.
  13. ^ Warren resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[16]
  14. ^ Osborne represented the Democratic and Populist parties.[34]
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i Represented the Republican Party
  16. ^ Sobel notes Carey received the Democratic nomination, but called himself an Independent and, later, a Progressive.[46]
  17. ^ Kendrick resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[49]
  18. ^ Carey lost the Republican nomination to John W. Hay.[55]
  19. ^ Clark lost the Republican nomination to Harry R. Weston.[70]
  20. ^ Represented the Democratic Party
  21. ^ Hunt resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[79]
  22. ^ Barrett resigned, having been elected to the United States Senate.[85]
  23. ^ Hickey resigned so that his successor could appoint him to the United States Senate.[94]
  24. ^ Hansen was instead elected to the United States Senate.[100]
  25. ^ a b c d Legislation passed in 1992 limited governors to eight years in any period of sixteen years.[111]
  26. ^ Gordon's second term began on January 2, 2023, and will expire January 4, 2027; he will be term-limited.

References

General
Specific
  1. ^ "CSG Releases 2013 Governor Salaries". The Council of State Governments. June 25, 2013. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  2. ^ a b c McMullin 1984, pp. 337–338.
  3. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 76, accessed July 22, 2023.
  4. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 41st Cong., 1st sess., 108, accessed July 22, 2023.
  5. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., special sess., 116, accessed July 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b McMullin 1984, pp. 338–339.
  7. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 2nd sess., 509, accessed July 22, 2023.
  8. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 43rd Cong., 2nd sess., 510, accessed July 22, 2023.
  9. ^ a b McMullin 1984, pp. 339–340.
  10. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., 261, accessed July 22, 2023.
  11. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 45th Cong., 2nd sess., 291, accessed July 22, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c McMullin 1984, p. 341.
  13. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 497, accessed July 22, 2023.
  14. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 47th Cong., 1st sess., 516, accessed July 22, 2023.
  15. ^ a b c d e McMullin 1984, pp. 341–343.
  16. ^ a b c d Sobel 1978, p. 1765.
  17. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 484, accessed July 22, 2023.
  18. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 48th Cong., 2nd sess., 490, accessed July 22, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c McMullin 1984, pp. 343–344.
  20. ^ a b McMullin 1984, pp. 344–346.
  21. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 597, accessed July 22, 2023.
  22. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 49th Cong., 2nd sess., 664, accessed July 22, 2023.
  23. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 40, accessed July 22, 2023.
  24. ^ U.S. Congress. Senate Exec. Journal. 51st Cong., special sess., 46, accessed July 22, 2023.
  25. ^ "Francis E. Warren". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  26. ^ "Just Before Midnight". The Cheyenne Daily Leader. October 12, 1890. p. 3. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  27. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Kallenbach 1977, pp. 649–651.
  28. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1766.
  29. ^ "Amos Walker Barber". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  30. ^ "Governor Barber". The Cheyenne Daily Leader. November 25, 1890. p. 2. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  31. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1766–1767.
  32. ^ "John Eugene Osborne". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  33. ^ "Governor Osborne Takes the Official Oath a Second Time". Lincoln Journal Star. January 3, 1893. p. 2. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  34. ^ Glashan 1979, p. 346.
  35. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1767–1768.
  36. ^ "William Alford Richards". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  37. ^ "Wyoming's New Governor". Reno Gazette-Journal. Associated Press. January 7, 1895. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  38. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1768–1769.
  39. ^ "De Forest Richards". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  40. ^ "Inducted into Office". The Salt Lake Tribune. January 3, 1899. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  41. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1769.
  42. ^ "Fenimore Chatterton". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  43. ^ "Gov. Richards Called". The Salt Lake Tribune. April 29, 1903. p. 3. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  44. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1770.
  45. ^ "Wyoming's New Governor Takes Office". Chicago Tribune. January 3, 1905. p. 5. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  46. ^ a b c Sobel 1978, pp. 1770–1771.
  47. ^ "Joseph Maull Carey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  48. ^ "Carey Inaugurated Governor of Wyoming". Midland Empire News. January 3, 1911. p. 4. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  49. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1771–1772.
  50. ^ "John Benjamin Kendrick". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  51. ^ "Kendrick Inducted Wyoming Governor". Salt Lake Telegram. January 4, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  52. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1772.
  53. ^ "Frank L. Houx". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  54. ^ "Frank L. Houx Now Governor of Wyo". The Northern Wyoming Herald. February 28, 1917. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  55. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1773.
  56. ^ "Robert Davis Carey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  57. ^ "Governor Robert D. Carey". The Northern Wyoming Herald. January 8, 1919. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  58. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1773–1774.
  59. ^ "William Bradford Ross". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  60. ^ "New Executive Is Fourth Demo to Hold Office". Casper Star-Tribune. January 2, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  61. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1774.
  62. ^ "Franklin Earl Lucas". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  63. ^ "Governor Ross Is Dead". Casper Star-Tribune. October 2, 1924. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  64. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1775.
  65. ^ "Nellie Tayloe Ross". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  66. ^ "Nellie Tayloe Ross Inaugurated Governor; First Woman to Hold This Office in U.S." Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 5, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  67. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1775–1776.
  68. ^ "Frank Collins Emerson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  69. ^ "Emerson in Inaugural Address Urges Constructive Program". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 3, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  70. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1776–1777.
  71. ^ "Alonzo M. Clark". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  72. ^ "Gov. Emerson Dead". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. February 19, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  73. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1777.
  74. ^ "Leslie A. Miller". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  75. ^ "Gov. Miller Assumes Post". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 2, 1933. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  76. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1777–1778.
  77. ^ "Nels H. Smith". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  78. ^ "Governor Smith Takes Oath". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 2, 1939. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  79. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1778–1779.
  80. ^ "Lester Calloway Hunt". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  81. ^ "Governor Hunt Takes Oath". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 4, 1943. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  82. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1779.
  83. ^ "Arthur Griswold Crane". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  84. ^ "Crane Becomes Chief Executive". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 3, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  85. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1779–1780.
  86. ^ "Frank A. Barrett". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  87. ^ Woolfson, Walt (January 1, 1951). "Barrett Sworn In at Ceremony at Statehouse". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  88. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1780.
  89. ^ "Clifford Joy Rogers". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  90. ^ "Rogers Is Now Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 4, 1953. p. 2. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  91. ^ Sobel 1978, p. 1781.
  92. ^ "Milward L. Simpson". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  93. ^ "Simpson Is Sworn In As Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 3, 1955. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  94. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1781–1782.
  95. ^ "John Joseph Hickey". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  96. ^ "Joe Hickey Takes Oath As Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 5, 1959. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  97. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1782–1783.
  98. ^ "Jack Robert Gage". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  99. ^ "Hickey Resigns; Appointed to Senate". The Jackson Hole Guide. January 5, 1961. p. 4. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  100. ^ a b Sobel 1978, p. 1783.
  101. ^ "Clifford P. Hansen". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  102. ^ "Gov. Hansen Takes Over Duties Today". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. January 7, 1963. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  103. ^ a b Sobel 1978, pp. 1783–1784.
  104. ^ "Stanley K. Hathaway". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  105. ^ Missett Jr., Bill (January 3, 1967). "Hathaway Becomes Wyoming's 19th Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 10. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  106. ^ Sobel 1978, pp. 1784–1785.
  107. ^ "Edward Herschler". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  108. ^ Magers, Kathie (January 7, 1975). "Herschler Takes Office". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  109. ^ a b "Michael J. Sullivan". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  110. ^ Kirshner, Erich (January 6, 1987). "Sullivan Takes Oath As Wyoming's 29th Governor". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  111. ^ Pershing, Chris Cillizza And Ben (February 16, 2009). "Will Wyoming's Governor Buck Term Limits?". ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  112. ^ a b "Jim Geringer". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  113. ^ "Geringer Promises Renewed Trust". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. January 3, 1995. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  114. ^ a b "Dave Freudenthal". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  115. ^ "Governor Installed". The Billings Gazette. Associated Press. January 7, 2003. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  116. ^ a b "Matthew Mead". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  117. ^ Pelzer, Jeremy (January 4, 2011). "'Putting Wyoming First'". Casper Star-Tribune. p. 1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  118. ^ a b "Mark Gordon". National Governors Association. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  119. ^ Gruver, Mead (January 8, 2019). "Governor Takes Oath in Work Zone". Casper Star-Tribune. Associated Press. p. A1. Retrieved July 24, 2023.

External links